The re-election bid of newly elected Rep. Niki Tsongas (D) just got easier. The single candidate running against her, businessman Kurt Hayes (R), dropped out of the race on Wednesday to run for a state legislative seat, according to the Lowell Sun.

Hayes ran as an Independent in the October 2007 special election to replace retired Rep. Marty Meehan (D), who stepped down to accept an academic position in the Bay State.

At the end of March, Tsongas had $179,000 in cash on hand, while Hayes had $6,600 in his coffers.

Currently Republicans do not have anyone on the ballot to run against Tsongas in what is arguably the most competitive district in the state. However, Massachusetts has not sent a Republican to Washington in more than 10 years.

— Shira Toeplitz